JANUARY 2019
OUR WORK:
January 11: Help support Witness Against Torture and other allies at the upcoming rally in DC marking yet another year of the operation of the U.S. prison at Guantánamo. PT is a proud partner in a coalition of human rights groups working to organize not only on January 11, but throughout the year. Join us on January 11 for a powerful and meaningful reminder to SHUT IT DOWN! Click Here to contact Colleen with any questions.
January 21: Together with other allies, PTer Robyn Bernstein Donati will honor the memory of Rev. Martin Luther King at Temple Israel of Athol, MA. Robyn comments: “The activities of the day will help participants to develop insight, understanding, and progress towards our country’s founding vision that we are, out of many, one.” Click here for all details.
On December 6, 2018 the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture held briefings for Congress on Capitol Hill describing findings from their new report: Torture Flights, North Carolina’s Role in the CIA Rendition and Torture Program. Peaceful Tomorrows members Colleen Kelly, Terry Rockefeller, and Terry Greene attended these powerful sessions. Esteemed panelists, including military and state department officials, physicians, and human rights advocates made stunning revelations about protocols used to torture and dehumanize. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Sec. of State Collin Powell, also detailed last second misinformation that led to Powell’s testimony to the United Nations in support of military actions against Iraq.
It is a terrible stain on the United States that it employed abduction and torture in our response to 9/11 rather than showcasing a commitment to human rights. Instead, the United States acted with the same blind rage as was unleashed by the terrorists. We are deeply grateful for the steadfastness of the Commissions and the many American citizens, including advocates engaged in The Center for Victims of Torture, who stand for human rights and the common humanity of all people.
OUR ALLIES:
2019 PT SYMPOSIUM:
We are working on this year’s “We Are One” interfaith symposium. The event will be held in Harlem, NY and is scheduled for February 24, 2019. Save the date – more details to follow. All are welcome!
Colleen Kelly, Terry Rockefeller and Terry Greene (left to right) in Washington, D.C. last month.
GUANTANAMO COMMITTEE:
There are two weeks of Military Commission Pretrial Hearings scheduled for March 18 – March 29, 2019. If you are interested in attending as the PT observer, please contact the Rule of Law Committee.
